You may have heard the phrase: If you want to make change, start locally. But how do impactful environmental missions actually take root in our own communities?

One compelling example can be found in the bustling capital of Ghana, Accra. There, two media professionals and conservationists have joined forces to protect their local waters, and to teach others how to do the same. George Amadou, a marine educator, conservationist, and underwater filmmaker, and David Selasi Kuwornu, a cinematographer and the organization’s communications and programs lead, are the founders of Coral Reefstoration Ghana, a non-governmental organization dedicated to expanding ocean access and protecting marine ecosystems.

In September of 2025, they launched The Dive Lab, Ghana’s first-ever diving and underwater media bootcamp designed specifically for marine biology undergraduates. The program represents a major step forward in hands-on marine education in the region.

Mission

Coral Reefstoration Ghana is a nonprofit organization focused on marine conservation, coral restoration, and expanding public access to the ocean. Their work centers on equipping ocean enthusiasts, scientists, and conservationists with both research skills and storytelling tools, believing that people are far more likely to protect what they understand and feel connected to.

In Ghana, ocean conservation still faces many challenges. Despite being a coastal nation, education around marine ecosystems is not very widespread at primary or secondary school levels. Many children grow up near the sea yet are taught to fear it, often hearing cultural stories that emphasize danger and risk.

“You know, growing up, one thing that we all noticed was our parents never allowed us to get close to the sea or to the ocean or to any water body at all. You know, because there’s this scare that we may drown…”George Amadou, Co-founder, Coral Reefstoration Ghana

As a result, misconceptions about the ocean persist into adulthood. Amadou and Selasi Kuwornu are working to change that narrative. Their goal is to reframe the ocean not as something to fear, but as something to explore, understand, and protect.

Origins of the Organization

Coral Reefstoration Ghana officially began just over two years ago with a simple but powerful goal: to help people feel more comfortable in the water. The team started by organizing swimming lessons for a wide range of participants, from schoolchildren to university students.

A turning point came when they attended the West African Marine Science Symposium, hosted by the University of Ghana. During the conference and through conversations with Professor Edem Mahu, they identified one of the region’s most significant barriers to marine conservation: lack of access. Across West Africa, only about one percent of students ever gain firsthand experience with the ocean. Most universities lack the funding, equipment, or infrastructure needed to take students into the field.

Seeing an opportunity, Amadou and Selasi Kuwornu expanded their efforts. Already certified divers with the necessary equipment, they began taking marine science students into the water, starting with Professor Mahu and her class.

“We decided on teaching them how to dive so that they could actually go down there, get to see the seabed, experience the marine life, and thereby appreciate marine conservation more.”George Amadou

Under the guidance of Coral Reefstoration Ghana, students are able to engage with their studies in three dimensions, transforming abstract concepts into lived experience and helping them become stronger researchers and storytellers. Through The Dive Lab, Coral Reefstoration Ghana hopes to empower West Africa’s future of science.

The Dive Lab

The Dive Lab is a six-day, hands-on program that teaches participants how to scuba dive and film underwater. The inaugural program received more than 50 applications, from which 10 students, mostly marine biology undergraduates, were selected.

By the end of the bootcamp, participants earn a diving certification, underwater research skills, underwater cinematography training, and media and storytelling experience.

The hope is that by experiencing marine ecosystems firsthand, students will develop a deeper connection to their work while gaining the tools to share their findings with both the scientific community and the broader public. If conservation efforts like this continue, Ghana may be able to guide us forward with news that contrasts the doom and gloom we are so accustomed to.

The State of Ghana’s Reefs

So, what is the current state of Ghana’s coral reefs?

According to Coral Reefstoration Ghana, the reefs are still relatively healthy, but highly vulnerable. Amadou and Selasi Kuwornu see this moment as critical: an opportunity to protect these ecosystems before irreversible damage occurs.

Some of the most pressing threats include destructive fishing practices and pollution. Bottom trawling, for example, involves dragging heavy nets across the seafloor, destroying reef structures and capturing far more marine life than intended. In other cases, fishing with explosives or harmful gear causes widespread damage and contamination.

In one recent project, Amadou used a 360-degree camera to document underwater damage and later presented the footage using a virtual reality headset. Showing coastal communities the direct consequences of human activity beneath the surface has proven to be a powerful tool for awareness and mindset change. Once people are able to get a visual understanding of what is happening in their environments, they are more likely to get involved.

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, Coral Reefstoration Ghana plans to expand its outreach through local media stations, with the goal of eventually reaching audiences across West Africa. They are also developing school programs, screenings, workshops, and virtual reality experiences to bring the ocean to those who may never have seen it firsthand.

“I believe that digital storytelling is actually what is going to bridge the gap between the wealth of knowledge that is to be acquired from the ocean and those out there who do not know about it. The digital storytelling tools are going to carry these live marine messages right on their wings to these people out there who do not know anything about it, who have very wrong perceptions about the ocean in the first place…”David Selasi Kuwornu, Co-founder, Coral Reefstoration Ghana

Longer-term, they hope to integrate marine science education into schools at an early age, starting with swimming programs for children that can eventually lead to diving and conservation training. With these programs they aim to empower young Ghanaians to become innovators and leaders in locally led ocean conservation.

Conservation does not always begin on a global scale. Often, it starts within a community, through access, education, and storytelling. Coral Reefstoration Ghana offers a powerful model for how these elements can come together to transform relationships with the ocean and inspire meaningful change.

To support their work, follow Coral Reefstoration Ghana on Instagram and YouTube at @CoralReefsGH, and help share their story with the world.

This article is courtesy of the Oceanography podcast from Pine Forest Media, the only independent podcast network in the world dedicated entirely to environmental science storytelling. Episodes are available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow Pine Forest Media on Instagram: @pineforestmedia

Written by: Madelyn Choi Weir

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About the Author

Madelyn Choi Weir is a New York-based freelance journalist, a producer with Pine Forest Media, and a public relations professional. Her work focuses on environmental storytelling and global travel. As an artist and polyglot, she seeks to amplify stories from around the world that have a story worth telling.